MALDA, India — An Indian policeman charged with guarding industrial plants in the state of West Bengal has had his salary cut for failing to stop his guard dog from becoming pregnant, officials said today.

Authorities at a steel plant in Malda, 220 km southwest of the state capital Kolkata, took a dim view of constable Sunil Kumar's oversight after the dog mated with a stray and gave birth to 10 puppies.

"It is a very sensitive issue in our department," S. Bhatnagar, the deputy inspector general of the state's Central Industrial Security Forces, told Reuters.

"The Labrador could not carry out her duties properly during her pregnancy and at time of delivery she was on leave."

Kumar, whose pay has been cut from 3,540 rupees ($77 U.S.) a month to 3,295 rupees, on Wednesday appealed against the decision in the Kolkata high court.

"When an animal experiences the urge to mate, it does not pay heed to its trainer," he told reporters in his defence.

But his boss is sticking to his guns. "A biological phenomenon relating to a sexual urge is a different issue, but it had been established he was not serious about his duties."

I hope Mr. Kumar wins his appeal. Although I think he should definitely have had his dog spayed, I think the company should have asked him if it was before they hired him, if they thought it would be a problem.